Adjustable load bolt adapter bracket assembly

ABSTRACT

An adjustable load bolt adapter bracket assembly for use with a sway brace in securing a bracing element between a fluid pipeline and a structure to anchor the pipeline to the structure and limit relative movement therebetween. The assembly comprises an attachment member and an adapter plate. The attachment member includes a flat plate portion having an upstanding lateral wall adjacent one end thereof, a pair of axially aligned fastener receiving apertures spaced from the other end thereof, a bracking element receiving member pivotedly mounted on the lateral end wall and a plurality of locking channels in the opposite sides and one end thereof. The adapter plate defines a pair of spaced fastener receiving apertures therein axially aligned therein and a locking tab extending from one side thereof and from one end thereof. By selectively disposing one of the tabs on the adapter plate within one of the locking channels in the attachment member the plate is interlocked with attachment member for increasing the available fastener receiving apertures for use in securing the bracing element to the fixed structure from two to four to increase the strength of the securement to meet different seismic codes and the footprint of the interlocked elements can be varied to fit on the available space on the fixed structure to which the bracket assembly is to be secured.

This is a continuation-in-part of application, Ser. No. 537,907, filedJune 11, 1990, and entitled Adjustable Load Bolt Adapter Assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an adjustable load bolt adapter bracketassembly particularly adapted for use with a sway brace in securing abracing element between a fluid pipeline and a fixed structure to anchorthe pipeline to the structure. Sway braces are commonly used in buildingstructures for securing numerous types of fluid supply lines to thestructure to brace the lines against damaging movement such as couldresult from a seismic disturbance. An example of such a sway brace isfound in U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,770. As seen therein, the sway bracesecures a fluid supply line to a joist or other building structure bymeans of an elongated tubular bracing member which is held adjacent oneof its ends by the sway brace and is fasten at its other end to thejoist by a pair of bolts or other approved fastening members.

Recent changes in building codes have required additional securement ofthe bracing member to the structure. This has been achieved through theuse of an adapter plate having three fastener receiving aperturestherein. The plate is positioned over the mounting bracket by which thebracing member is secured to the structure or, in the case of the abovepatented structure, over the flattened end of the bracing element, suchthat two of the apertures in the plate are aligned with the apertures inthe bracket, leaving the third aperture in the plate in axial alignmentwith the super imposed apertures of the plate end bracket. Through thisconfiguration three bolts or other securement fasteners can be used tosecure the bracing member to the building structure, increasing thestrength of the attachment. Alternatively, an adapter plate having fourapertures can be employed with the bracket to provide two additionalfastener receiving apertures for applications requiring even additionalattachment support.

While the use of such adapter plates has heretofore satisfied coderequirements, they are subject to relative movement with respect to thebrackets in the event of eccentric loading during a seismic disturbancedue to the lack of any positive engagement between the plates and thebracket. In addition, such plates are configured so as to extend fromthe rearward end of the mounting bracket. As the building joists orother fixed members to which the mounting bracket and adapter plate areto be secured are often somewhat narrow and angularly disposed withrespect to the central axis of the mounting bracket when the bracket ispositioned thereon, there can be insufficient surface area toaccommodate the rearwardly projecting bracket. The load bolt adapterbracket assembly of the present invention not only provides the positiveengagement between the bracket and plate lacking in the adapterplate/mounting bracket combinations heretofore available, but allows forboth extended and lateral parallel mounting of the adapter plate withrespect to the mounting bracket to provide a variable footprint and thusbetter accommodate the available mounting space on the joist or othermounting surface while continuing to minimize any relevant movementbetween the mounting bracket and plate in the event of a seismicdisturbance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises an adjustable load bolt adapter bracketassembly for use in securing a bracing element to a fixed structure. Theassembly is particularly adapted for use with a sway brace and aelongated bracing element for securing a fluid pipeline to a structureto prevent relative movement between the pipeline and structure in theevent of a seismic disturbance. The assembly includes an attachmentmember for engaging one end of the bracing element and an adapter platewhich interlocks and cooperates with the attachment member to secure thebracing element in place. The attachment member includes a flat plateportion which is adapted to abut a flat surface of the structure anddefines a pair of axially aligned fastener receiving apertures thereinand a plurality of locking tab recesses in the side walls thereof. Theadapter plate defines a pair of axially aligned fastener receivingapertures therein and a locking tab projecting from each of twoperpendicularly disposed side walls thereof. By selectively disposingthe adapter plate adjacent the plate portion of the attachment membersuch that one of the locking tabs is received within one of the lockingtab recesses, the adapter plate can be interlocked with the attachmentmember in a plurality of adjacent dispositions to increase the number ofavailable fastener receiving apertures for use in securing theattachment member to a fixed structure from two to four, therebyselectively increasing the strength of the securement to meet thestructural requirements of the particular application, while allowingfor adjustment in the footprint of the entire bracket assembly to fit onthe available mounting space on the fixed structure to which theattachment member is to be secured.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide animproved load bolt adapter bracket assembly for use with a sway brace insecuring a bracing element between a fluid pipeline and a structure toanchor the pipeline to the structure and limit relative movementtherebetween.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a load boltadapter bracket assembly for use in securing a bracing element to afixed structure which can selectively accommodate either two, three orfour fastening members for securing the bracket to the structure to meetdifferent structural strength attachment requirements without having tomaintain an inventory of differently sized adapter plates.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anadjustable load bolt adapter bracket assembly for use in securing abracing element to a fixed structure which provides a positiveengagement between the components of the assembly to prevent relativemovement between said components upon the assembly being subjected to aneccentric loading.

It is still further object of the present invention to provide a loadbolt adapter bracket assembly which allows for substantial variations inthe footprint of the assembly to fit on the available mounting surfacesof a fixed structure while continuing to maintain a positive engagementbetween the components of the assembly.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome readily apparent from the following detail description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the adjustable load bolt adapter bracketassembly of the present invention in use with a sway brace and bracingelement to secure a pipeline to a building joist wherein the attachmentmember and adapter plate are disposed in interlocked parallel alignment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the bracket assembly of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the different interlocked positionsof the attachment member and adapter plate of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bracket assembly of the presentinvention in use with a sway brace and bracing element to secure apipeline to a building joist wherein the attachment member and adapterplate are disposed in interlocked axial alignment.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the use ofthe bracket assembly 10 of the present invention to secure a water pipe12 to a building joist 13 by means of a sway brace 14 and ridged bracingelement 16. As seen therein, the sway brace 14 ridgedly secures thebracing element 16 to the water pipe 12 by means of a bolt member 18 andthe perimeter walls of aligned apertures 20, 22 and 24 in the swaybrace. The operation of sway brace 14 is described in detail in U.S.Pat. No. 4,697,770. The ridged bracing element 16 is preferably definedby cylindrical metal pipe provided with external threads adjacent theextended end 26 thereof.

The bracket assembly 10 comprises an attachment member 28 and adapterplate 30. The attachment member 28 is preferably constructed steel andis about 3/16-1/4 inch in thickness and defines a flat metal plateportion 32 having an upstanding lateral wall 34 adjacent end 36 thereof.A cylindrical bracing element receiving member 38 is pivotedly mountedon lateral wall 34 by means of a suitable bolt 40 and nut 42 and isprovided with internal threads 44 adapted to mate with the externalthreads adjacent end 26 of the bracing element 16 so as to ridgedlysecure the extended end of the bracing element 16 to the attachmentmember 28. The flat plate portion 32 of attachment member 28 defines apair of spaced axially aligned fastener receiving apertures 46 and 48therein, while sides 50 and 52 and rearward 54 of the plate portion 32define tapered locking tab receiving channels 56, 58 and 60 therein.

The adapter plate 30, also preferably constructed of 3/16-1/4 inchsteel, is preferably flat and defines a pair of fastener receivingapertures 52 disposed along the central longitudinal axis thereof, afirst wedge-shaped locking tab 64 projecting from one end thereof and asecond similarly configured locking tab 66 projecting from one of theside walls of plate 30. In use, the attachment member 28 can be employedwithout the adapter plate 30 when only two fastening members are neededto provide the necessary securement of the attachment member 28 andbracing element 16 to the joist 13. If greater securement is requiredfor a particular application, as for example where larger piping isbeing supported or where building codes are more rigid, the adapterplate 30 is employed with the attachment member 28 to increase themember of available fastener receiving apertures from two to four. Toanchor the adapter plate 30 to attachment member 28, one of the lockingtabs 64 or 66 is disposed within one of the locking tab receivingchannels 56, 58 or 60 in the attachment member, depending on theconfiguration of available space on the building joist to which thebracket assembly 10 is to be secured.

FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrate the adapter plate 30 being interlocked with theattachment member 28 in both parallel and axial alignments to fit theavailable mounting space on joist 13 while FIG. 3 illustrates thedifferent footprints which the assembly 10 defines depending on relativepositioning of the adapter plate 30 with respect to the attachmentmember 28. In each of the three different positions illustrated thereinthe interlocking of the adapter plate to the attachment member by meansof the locking tabs prevents relative movement between the twocomponents and minimizes the effect of any eccentric loading as mayoccur during a seismic disturbance. It should also be noted that, ifdesired for unusual installations, up to three adapter plates could beemployed with a single attachment member.

Various changes and modifications may be made in carrying out thepresent invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.Insofar as these changes and modifications are within the purview of theappended claims, they are to be considered as part of the presentinvention.

I claim:
 1. An adjustable bracket assembly for selective use with a varying number of fasteners to secure a bracing element to a fixed structure, said assembly comprising:an attachment member having means thereon for engaging a bracing element and defining a flat plate portion extending from said means, said plate portion having a pair of axially aligned fastener receiving apertures therein and a locking tab securing channel formed in opposite sides and one end of said plate portion; and an adapter plate for cooperation with said attachment member to provide additional fastener receiving apertures for the securement of the bracing element to the structure, said plate defining a plurality of axially aligned fastening receiving apertures therein, a first locking tab extending from one end thereof and a second locking tab extending from one side thereof, one of said tabs being adapted to be received within one of said channels for interlocking said adapter plate with said attachment member in a selected disposition adjacent thereto whereby the number of available fastener receiving apertures for use in securing the bracing element to the fixed structure can be increased by the number of fastener receiving apertures in said adapter plate and the footprint defined by said attachment member and interlocked adapter plate can be varied to fit the available space on a fixed structure.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said engaging means on said attachment member comprises an upstanding sidewall portion integrally formed with said flat plate portion and a cylindrical member defining internal threads therein adapted to receive and threadably engage the bracing element, said cylindrical member being pivotedly mounted on said upstanding wall portion.
 3. The assembly of either claim 1 or 2 wherein said channels in said attachment member tapered wall portions and said locking tabs projecting from said adapter plate are configured to received within said channels and retained therein by said tapered wall portions.
 4. An adjustable bracket assembly for selective use with a varying number of fasteners to secure a bracing element to a fixed structure, said assembly comprising:an attachment member including a flat plate portion, an upstanding sidewall portion integrally formed with said flat plate portion, a cylindrical member defining internal threads therein adapted to receive and threadably engage a bracing element, said cylindrical member being pivotedly mounted on said upstanding wall portion, and a locking tab receiving channel having tapered wall portions formed in opposite sides and one end of said plate portion; and an adapter plate for cooperation with said attachment member to provide additional fastener receiving apertures for the securement of the bracing element to the structure, said plate defining a pair of axially aligned fastener receiving apertures therein, a first locking tab extending from one side thereof and a second locking tab extending from one end thereof, said tabs being configured to be received within said channels and retained therein by said tapered wall portions such that one of said tabs can be disposed within one of said channels for interlocking said adapter plate with said attachment member in a selected disposition adjacent thereto whereby the member of available fastener receiving apertures for use in securing a bracing to a fixed structure can be increased from two to four and the footprint defined by said attachment member and interlocked adapter plate can be varied to fit the available space on the fixed structure. 